The Ephrata Man Who Collected Death: A Profile of Jonathan Gerlach

The Mask of Normalcy

To the residents of Ephrata Borough, Jonathan Christ Gerlach was just the guy at 100 Washington Avenue. He was 34 years old. He drove a silver Toyota RAV4. He paid his taxes. There were no red flags on the exterior of his property. The lawn was cut. The siding was clean. In a town obsessed with "curb appeal," Gerlach was a model citizen.

But public records reveal that behind this facade of suburban normalcy, Gerlach was spiraling into a dark obsession. Retrospective interviews with neighbors reveal that the signs of death were there long before the police arrived. They just looked like insects.

The Vital Statistics

Before we analyze the crimes, we must document the man.

• Full Legal Name: Jonathan Christ Gerlach
• Date of Birth: September 24, 1991 (Age 34 at time of arrest)
• Residency: Ephrata, PA (Lancaster County)
• Aliases: "Deadshitdaddy" (Instagram), Active User in "Human Bones and Skull Selling Group" (Facebook).
• Current Status: Incarcerated at George W. Hill Correctional Facility (Delaware County); held on $1,000,000 cash bail.

The Timeline of Escalation

Using property deeds, council meeting minutes, and criminal dockets, we have reconstructed the timeline of Gerlach's descent from homeowner to predator.

1. The Arrival (October 5, 2023) Gerlach’s footprint in Ephrata began on October 5, 2023, when the property at 100 Washington Avenue was sold for $255,000. For two years, he lived in this 3-bedroom, 1-bath rowhome. While he had no professional licenses (medical or funeral) in Pennsylvania, he began quietly transforming the residence into a processing plant.

2. The Warning Sign: "Swarms of Flies" (2024–2025) This is the most visceral detail of the investigation. While code enforcement officers were busy measuring grass height, neighbor Charles Rothermel noticed something horrifying. He reported seeing swarms of flies—"20 or 30 on each window"—covering the inside of Gerlach's garage and basement glass.

This wasn't a sanitation issue; it was a biological marker.

• The Forensic Truth: In forensic science, "Blow flies" (Calliphoridae) are the first witnesses to a corpse. They can smell decomposition from over a mile away.
• The Missed Clue: The neighbors knew something was rotting. They just didn't know it was people. The flies were trying to get in to the "wet" inventory Gerlach was processing in the basement.

3. The Halloween Catalyst (October 31, 2025) The transition from "weird neighbor" to "active criminal" began, almost poetically, on Halloween Day. According to East Earl Township Police records, Gerlach was charged with Retail Theft on October 31, 2025, for stealing approximately $167.43 in merchandise.

Why East Earl Matters: East Earl Township is a neighboring jurisdiction, just a 15-minute drive east of Ephrata on Route 322. It is a hub for hardware and supply stores.

• The Theory: Did he steal the tools (crowbars, flashlights) in East Earl on Halloween morning to use them for his first grave robbery that night?
• The Data: Police allege that his phone first pinged at Mount Moriah Cemetery shortly after this date. This retail theft appears to be the "supply run" for the crimes that followed.

4. The "Deadshitdaddy" Era (Late 2025) By November 2025, the break-ins at Mount Moriah had begun. Gerlach wasn't just hoarding; he was marketing. Using the handle "deadshitdaddy," he allegedly advertised human remains on social media. He had turned 100 Washington Avenue into a fulfillment center for the macabre.

The Final Inventory (January 6, 2026)

When police finally raided the home—after finding the discarded energy drink that linked him to the scene—they found more than just bones.

Among the 100+ skulls and mummified feet, investigators discovered a corpse with a pacemaker still attached. This wasn't an ancient artifact. This was a modern medical device, ripped from a person who had lived, loved, and died in our lifetime.

In the trunk of his car, alongside the Burlap Sack Evidence, police found the mummified remains of two children. Jonathan Gerlach didn't just collect death. He stole the innocence of the grave.

🚨 Continue the Investigation

We know who he is. We know where he lived. Now, we follow the money. Who was buying from "Deadshitdaddy"? And how much is a human skull worth on Facebook?

• ⬅️ Previous: Chapter 5: The "Burlap Sack" Evidence
• ➡️ Next: Chapter 7: Hunting 'Deadshitdaddy' (The Online Sales Network)

More on Vocal from Sunshine Firecracker☀️🧨:

• Inside the House of Skulls: The Complete Investigation (Master Hub)
• The Monster in the Details: How an Energy Drink Solved the Case
• Is Your Town Hall Breaking the Law? A Citizen's Guide to Official Oppression in Pennsylvania

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK NOTICE © 2026 Sunshine Firecracker / Dr. Jennifer Gayle Sappington, J.D. All Rights Reserved.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER The content provided in this article is for informational, educational, and advocacy purposes only.

EDITORIAL NOTE All allegations are based on the Affidavit of Probable Cause, East Earl Township Police Blotter, and Delaware County Criminal Dockets.